Bucket List Wines: California

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Ridge York Creek Petite Sirah

While I think Petite Sirah is potentially the greatest varietal wine produced in California, with Zinfandel a close second, it isn’t even on most people’s radar.

I’m not sure why Petite Sirah gets so little respect. For my palate, the variety is ideally suited to California’s warm climate, producing large-scaled wines that tend to have good acidity and relatively moderate alcohol levels where other varieties tend to go all flabby and jammy. Also, the wines have the potential to age spectacularly well.

Need proof? Check out a mature Ridge Vineyards York Creek Petite Sirah. These wines are becoming fairly rare, but they pop up now and again both at retail and at auction. A bottle from a less acclaimed vintage, which seems to have little effect on the actual quality of the wine, can often be had for just about $100 a bottle. This is a real steal when you think that these wines represent the pinnacle of Petite Sirah! I’m a big fan of both the 1975 and 1979, both considered to be just average vintages.

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tomglip

502946 25

MY BUCKET LIST - CHOSEN FROM WINES I HAVE HAD BUT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AGAIN, IF THE WINE AND I WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION:

1970 BV GEORGES DE LaTOUR RESERVE CABERNET
1982 OR 1991 BERINGER RESERVE CABERNET
1985 INGLENOOK REUNION
LONG VINEYARDS LATE HARVEST RIESLING (any vintage from the 90s)
1992 SUMMIT LAKE EMILY KESTREL CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1990 RUBICON
1983 DUNN HOWELL MOUNTAIN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1978 RIDGE YORK CREEK PETITE SIRAH
1987 BERINGER BANCROFT RANCH MERLOT
1978 OR 1985 INGLENOOK CHARBONO

Jul 12, 2012 at 4:47 PM
pinot N

1035167 18

Y piensan dejar fuera de la lista a Robert Mondavi y su famoso fume Blanc ?

Jul 12, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Howie-
Schwartz

1119421 33

Jordan Cab 78
Marcaisson any year
Ch. Neuf d'Pape Beaucastel any year
Turley Zinf when she made it. Old vines.
Mt. Veeder Cab 89
Silver Oak 89 99 2001

Jul 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM
homestar

512161 83

Have you done a piece on Petite Sirah? My apologies if I missed it, but given your comments it would seem odd if you haven't. I have had several I enjoy a great deal, but they tend to be huge wines and probably overpowering for many people and many occasions. Would love to read about your wider tastings from California.

Jul 15, 2012 at 7:44 AM
DOCTOR T

152537 36

I AGREE I HAD THE 1978 AT BURNS STEAK HOUSE BACK IN AROUND 1999. IT WAS FABULOUS.

Jul 16, 2012 at 2:41 PM
gmatt01

298451 1

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard

Jul 18, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Sherrie-
Perkovich

1120360 41

A MUST try Petite Sirah in California comes from Concannon Vineyard...they have a whole flight.. after all, they were the first to produce it 50+ years ago! Be sure to try Captain Joe's PS. Cheers.

Jul 19, 2012 at 3:16 PM

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1. Ridge Petite Sirah Spring Mountain District York Creek (1975)	List It
2. Stony Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay (1978)	List It
3. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (1978)	List It
4. Beaulieu Vineyard Special Burgundy (1968)	List It

Bucket List Wines: California

Sometimes the best wines are the hardest to find